MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce

MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce GmbH, commonly abbreviated MTR, is a multinational aerospace-engine joint venture formed by Germany's MTU Aero Engines, France's Turbomeca, and the United Kingdom's Rolls-Royce. The company was established in June 1989 within the French-German programme that led to the development of the Tiger, an advanced multirole battlefield helicopter later produced by Eurocopter, now Airbus Helicopters. Rather than manufacturing a broad range of branded engines, MTR was created as the programme-management company responsible for one dedicated powerplant family: the MTR390 turboshaft engine. The MTR390 was designed specifically for helicopter propulsion. A Tiger helicopter uses two engines, and the powerplant incorporates full-authority digital engine control, commonly referred to as FADEC. MTR's responsibilities extend beyond engineering. It coordinates development, production, support, marketing, and sales, and acts as the contractual entity accountable to the relevant government customer agencies. The arrangement allowed the three partner companies to divide technical and manufacturing responsibilities while presenting a unified industrial organization to the nations procuring the Tiger. The original workshare assigned Turbomeca responsibility for the compressor, gearbox, accessories, and control system. Rolls-Royce produced the power-turbine stage, while MTU handled the combustor, high-pressure turbine, and final assembly of the first production batch. The engine is assembled from modules manufactured at facilities operated by the partner companies, reflecting the multinational structure of the programme. The MTR390 programme entered its production-investment phase in 1997. The engine received civil registration in the same year, followed by military qualification in 1999. France and Germany publicly ordered an initial batch of 160 Tiger helicopters in June 1999, split equally between the two countries. An initial production contract for engines and spares was signed in early 2000, clearing the MTR390 for production. The first production Tiger was presented in March 2002, and official deliveries followed in 2005, first to France and then to Germany. Although the MTR390 was principally associated with the Tiger, MTR was also responsible for marketing and selling the engine for other potential military and civil applications. The programme initially anticipated production of approximately 1,000 engines to support a projected fleet of 427 Tigers, although later Tiger variants received more powerful versions than those installed in the earliest aircraft. The available reference material identifies the MTR390 as the company's sole product to date. MTR is therefore best understood as a focused aerospace-propulsion programme company rather than a diversified consumer-facing brand.

MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce was established in June 1989 as part of the industrial framework created by the French and West German governments for an advanced multirole battlefield helicopter. The helicopter programme was assigned to a separate partnership between France's Aérospatiale and West Germany's Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, while MTR was formed to provide the dedicated engine organization for the aircraft. Its three shareholders were MTU Aero Engines of Germany, Turbomeca of France, and Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom. MTR's role was broader than that of a conventional component supplier. It served as programme-management company for the MTR390, coordinating the engine's development, industrial production, technical support, marketing, and sales. It was also the contractual party responsible to the government agencies of customer nations. The company was staffed through functional groups drawn from the three partner organizations, allowing the programme to combine national industrial capabilities within a single management structure. Manufacturing was divided among the partners. Turbomeca produced the compressor, gearbox, accessories, and control system. Rolls-Royce was responsible for the power-turbine stage. MTU handled the combustor and high-pressure turbine and performed final assembly for the first batch of engines. This modular structure enabled separate production at partner facilities before integration into the completed engine. The MTR390 was developed as a FADEC-controlled turboshaft engine for helicopter use. Its principal application became the Tiger attack helicopter, which uses two engines. The programme reached its production-investment phase in 1997, when the engine also obtained civil registration. Military qualification followed in 1999. On 18 June 1999, France and Germany announced their initial procurement of 160 Tiger helicopters, with 80 assigned to each country. The order created the central production requirement around which the MTR390 industrial plan was organized. In early 2000, MTR signed an initial production contract with Germany's Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement. The contract, valued at DM430 million according to the cited reference, covered 320 engines and spares and represented formal clearance for production. The first production Tiger was rolled out at Eurocopter's Donauwörth factory on 22 March 2002. Production aircraft began initial acceptance trials in 2003. The first official delivery to the French Army occurred on 18 March 2005, followed by Germany's first official delivery on 6 April 2005. The original planning assumption envisaged approximately 1,000 engines for a production run of 427 Tigers. Later Tiger versions were equipped with more powerful MTR390 variants than the engines installed in early aircraft. MTR also retained responsibility for promoting the engine for possible additional military and civil applications, although the MTR390 is identified in the available reference material as the company's only product. The historical record therefore presents MTR as a tightly focused, multinational propulsion venture built around the Tiger helicopter programme rather than as an independent producer with a wide commercial portfolio.

• 2005

  First French and German deliveries

  [1]MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org

  Official Tiger deliveries begin with France in March and Germany in April.

• 2002

  First production Tiger rollout

  [1]MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org

  The first production Tiger helicopter is rolled out at Eurocopter's Donauwörth facility.

• 2000

  Initial production contract

  [1]MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org

  MTR signs a contract for 320 engines and spares, formally clearing the MTR390 for production.

• 1999

  Military qualification and launch-country order

  [1]MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org

  The MTR390 receives military qualification, while France and Germany announce an initial order for 160 Tiger helicopters.

• 1997

  MTR390 enters production investment

  [1]MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org

  The engine programme moves into production investment and receives civil registration.

• 1989

  MTR is established

  [1]MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org

  MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce is formed in June to manage development of the engine for the emerging French-German Tiger helicopter programme.

A specialized European aerospace joint venture focused on the integrated development, manufacture, support, and marketing of a military helicopter turboshaft engine.

• Helicopter turboshaft engine · 1997

  MTR390

  The MTR390 is a FADEC-controlled turboshaft engine developed for helicopter propulsion, principally for the Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter. Each Tiger uses two engines. Its modular production arrangement divides major systems among the three MTR partner companies: Turbomeca produces the compressor, gearbox, accessories, and control system; Rolls-Royce makes the power-turbine stage; and MTU contributes the combustor, high-pressure turbine, and designated final assembly. Later Tiger variants use more powerful versions of the engine.

• 2000

  Authorize MTR390 productionProduct launch

  Background

  The initial French and German Tiger procurement created the requirement for a production engine supply.

  Action taken

  MTR signed an initial production contract with Germany's Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement for 320 engines plus spares.

  Aftermath

  The contract represented the MTR390's clearance for production and supported the transition from development to series manufacture.

  Contract value. DM430 million (Early 2000)

  Source

• 1989

  Create a dedicated multinational engine programme companyStrategy

  Background

  The French and West German governments required a dedicated propulsion organization for the advanced battlefield helicopter programme that became the Tiger.

  Action taken

  MTU Aero Engines, Turbomeca, and Rolls-Royce established MTR to coordinate the MTR390's development, production, support, and customer contracting.

  Aftermath

  MTR became the programme-management and contractual organization for the Tiger's engine rather than a broad, standalone engine portfolio.

  Source

1. 1MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royceen.wikipedia.org